It is what cyclists are going to do at the end of the block that concerns me.

It will be a disaster waiting to happen with the bike riders crossing the roads.

Riders don't make a habit of stopping and waiting for cars, they usually try to beat the cars.

Sit back and wait for the first casualties.

Jan Flowers, Alfredton.

These paths will be largely unused by those it was intended for.

The path will go from nowhere to nowhere.

If, like in Europe, the path began at say, the train station and went to a CBD, main shopping precinct or school zone, then it would be beneficial to the community and possibly used.

Ballarat is not built like a bike friendly European city.

It's spread out and not wholly centralised requiring long bike rides to get to where you are going.

If you take a look a Copenhagen, Denmark, you will find that a lot of people travel by public transport to say a train station then get on their bike, that they leave at the station, to travel the shorter next leg of their journey to their destination.

That's why there are literally thousands of bikes parked at these locations.

Also, who's going to pay for it?

The rate payers of Ballarat already pay a premium to live in this wonderful city.

Asking for more money from them to pay for something like this project for which, I think the community would only utilise in single digit percentages of the population, will end up being a feel good exercise and not something the community really needs.

Cam Macdonald, Lucas.

On opening The Courier August 15, I thought how exciting it is to see an image of our beautiful Ballarat Sturt Street looking so alive and useful!

As I am no longer a present day user, I feel unable to make more positive comments on detail.

However sensitive care must be taken in the choosing of combined pedestrian /cycling paths, or bike only paths.

We need both types of paths throughout the city, for safety, convenience and healthy lifestyle.

With careful consultation planning to meet the needs of all commuters, the whole central district, especially Sturt Street needs to be treated as a whole.

It was always a grand plan and we need to do it justice in a new era of changing lifestyle and avoid drastic mistakes.

I have faith in a new generation and trust all the authorities will now continue to move forward in their planning to achieve an excellent renewal of our City of Ballarat.

It gave me a lift to see the artist's impression.

It can still be beautiful and liveable.

June Johnston, Alfredton.

I'm amazed, after all the objections to this unnecessary bike path, that this has now surfaced again.

Why? Totally unnecessary; I can count one one hand the number of bikes I have seen since coming to Ballarat from vastly over developed Melbourne some 18 months ago.

Where are the bikes that need this?

Please don't change this wonderful wide treed plantation.

It's the charm of the wide streets and many trees that are a major part of Ballarat's attraction.

We don't have the massive traffic and narrow streets that make dedicated bike paths a good idea for safety.

Julie Taylor, Ballarat North.

Ballarat is loved by locals and visitors because of the beautiful places.

These gardens are a major historical landscape feature which complement our magnificent historic, architectural history.

This has been discouraged more recently by the increased traffic and thus the difficulty crossing the roads from one garden to the next.

The heritage of the gardens is uniquely Ballarat, with beautifully designed monuments set in tranquil gardens.

The gardens have an historically rectilinear design for the garden beds, trees and orientation of the monuments which compliments the rectilinear design of the street pattern and buildings.

It is out of character to put a winding concrete path through the gardens - and it is unnecessary.

Cyclists can use the existing paths or, if Ballarat is serious about increasing access by cyclists reduce Sturt St by one lane and give one over to cyclists to use..and measure how many do so.

If it is not used enough the lane could be returned to vehicle use without having damaged our history.

Lorraine Huddle, Soldiers Hill.

"What's with all the fuss over a path?" The Courier August 17, expressed surprise at the controversy raised by the proposed shared pedestrian/cycle path down the middle of Sturt Street's historic Central Gardens and then added to it by implying that opposition to the proposed path is 'anti-cyclist' and including a provocative cartoon.

While a very small minority on The Courier Facebook page displayed anti-cycling sentiments, overwhelmingly comments opposing the path reflected concerns about its impact upon the heritage gardens.

The opinion writer claims, in the absence of detailed plans, that the statues, monuments and trees 'won't be touched.'

However artist's impressions of three small sections of the proposed path, prepared by Regional Roads and published by The Courier, indicate removal of at least two commemorative garden beds, a hitching post dedicated to Adam Lindsay Gordon, sections of bluestone guttering, two masonry benches, and a cast iron drinking fountain.

Presumably also since changes to any historic area will have "little impact on people's everyday lives", we should support all proposals however ill advised or unnecessary they may be, disregard any alternatives and completely ignore any negative effects on the heritage of Ballarat and the economic benefits it brings to the city.

Stuart Kelly, Ballarat West.